SPOCK ON!

It’s an airgun, Jimmy, but not as we know it. Russ Douglas boldly goes on a Vulcan 2 test

You know me, I’m a bullpup rifle addict. I’ve always found them attractive and even when fully able-bodied I preferred a compact rifle, which simply seemed a more intelligent design to me. The first (ahem, a long time ago) was a custom conversion Daystate Huntsman, with a large slab of woodwork meant for FT. These days, portability is everything, so my gun safe now contains both sub-12 ft.lbs. and FAC air rifles in compact bullpup form, primarily for pest control.

I’d seen the Vulcan 2 on social media, having somehow missed the original, and some research led me to Airgun Technologies, or AGT, who started in 2013 in the Czech Republic. Several Czech companies have already made their mark on the shooting world, and AGT even use barrels from one of the biggest, CZ, so they’re definitely a marque to be taken seriously. I visited my family ‘doon sooth’ a few months ago, naturally popping in past Blackpool Air Rifles (BAR) on the way, as you do. Lloyd, the owner of BAR, kindly loaned me a .22 Vulcan2 to review, but resisted my attempts to also borrow its smaller sibling, the Uragan Compact (dagnabbit!) You can see the similarities from my countertop photo, both very efficient designs to my eye, with no wasted space.

ATTRACTIVE AND FUNCTIONAL

This rifle features shine-free metal surfaces throughout and a stunning laminate thumbhole stock. Let me mention that straight away because the grip includes ambidextrous palm swells and felt fantastic filling my large hand. The stock surface also has a matte, satin patina (thermal varnish), and is exceptionally well finished. The only chequering panels are on both sides of the fore end, looking attractive as well as functional.